Dec. 5, 2009

A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help CSU Monterey Bay prepare students for careers in natural resources and agriculture.

The university will use the $300,000 to enhance its curriculum by adding courses in plant and soil science – classes that are essential for careers with agencies that manage natural resources important to agriculture.

The new courses will enable CSUMB students to qualify for jobs in a range of fields within the USDA and other resource agencies, positions the agriculture department considers mission critical.

The grant will also expand the university's commitment to undergraduate research by providing 24 paid internships, linking students to a professional network and connecting them to careers in the region. A scholarship for a student in the Master's of Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy program at CSUMB will also be funded by the grant.

"This grant gives us the opportunity to bolster the development of our students - in the classroom and in the field - to prepare them for careers in natural resources in support of agriculture and related fields," said Marc Los Huertos, a professor in the Division of Science and Environmental Policy.

Dr. Los Huertos has formed a community advisory group to provide industry perspectives and help the university align its curriculum with workforce needs of the region's agricultural industry.